From a junkie in Boogie Nights to sleek, clean-cut special agent Clarice Starling, this actress can transform her look as quickly as she changes character

In her role as FBI agent Clarice Starling in Hannibal, the long awaited sequel to Silence of the Lambs, Julianne manages to look fabulous – even when trapped in a pigpen. If you like her smooth, chic look and have at least shoulder-length hair, follow these helpful hints from stylist Philippe Barr of the Frédéric Fekkai Beauté de Provence Salon in New York.

STEP 1: Wash your hair using a shampoo and conditioner specifically made for colour-treated hair. These products are helpful because they contain deep conditioning agents that weigh down hair, which will help in creating an ultra-straight look.

STEP 2: Using your blow-dryer on a low or cool setting, begin to pre-dry the hair by running your fingers through it from the roots to the ends. This will help remove excess moisture. Stop when your hair is still damp, but no longer wet.

STEP 3: Use a comb to create a middle parting. Blend a combination of straightening product and smoothing cream in the palm of your hand and work it through your hair. This blend will help protect hair from heat, as well as aid in straightening.

STEP 4: Begin blow-drying the front sections of hair first, as these tend to dry more quickly. Start with the lower sections and work from underneath, using a round brush to guide the hair slightly forward and straight down until the ends fall off the brush. Keep this motion as close to the face as you can. Repeat this process until one whole side of the head is completely dry, then repeat on the other side.

STEP 5: To dry the back of the head, divide the hair down the middle, and work in the same way you dried the sides, from the lower sections to the top. Make sure that all the pieces underneath are completely dry before you move on to the upper layers. If the underlayers are even slightly damp, the layers on top will absorb the moisture and get wavy.

STEP 6: Now for a little styling déjà vu. Using a flat brush, repeat the entire drying process with the round brush. Restyling the hair with this type of brush will help the hair to become even more flat and shiny.

STEP 7: This step requires a straightening iron with a comb-like edge. Straighten the front of the hair working in large sections from the bottom layers to the top. Start the iron near the roots and quickly pull it straight down the hair shaft. Make sure that as soon as the iron touches your hair, you keep it moving. If you hold the iron on any part of the hair, it will leave a crimp.

STEP 8: Finish the look by applying styling cream to the top layer of hair from the roots to the ends and add a bit of separation to the ends of the hair.